Question marks over West Coast’s premiership credentials after mid-season slump

HOPE, frustration and disappointment. That’s West Coast’s season in a nutshell. Everything was going well after Round 8 but three straight losses have raised plenty of questions.

FACED with the devastating blow of losing its most important player for the season, ­innovative West Coast got proactive over summer and ­recruited two 34-year-olds.

The Eagles hoped the ­addition of Sam Mitchell and Drew Petrie would allow them to challenge for the flag even without star ruckman Nic Naitanui.

At 6-2 after Round 8, things were going well enough, but three consecutive losses leading into last weekend’s bye have suddenly raised all sorts of questions.

INJURED RUCKMAN: NIC NAT COULD MISS ENTIRE 2017

THE TACKLE: ROBBO’S LIKES AND DISLIKES FROM ROUND 12

BAROMETER: YOUR CLUB’S INJURY LIST

Having the oldest list in the competition is fine if you’re contending, but if West Coast is not a genuine flag hope, the state of its list becomes an issue.

The Eagles are playing fewer youngsters than at any stage of the club’s history, raising the possibility of a painful rebuild in the next few years.

Mitchell has been good and, while Petrie missed eight games with a broken hand, he showed enough in Round 11 against Gold Coast to suggest he could be a handy contributor in the run home.

Sam Mitchell was added to an ageing West Coast list. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Led by intercept-marking stars Jeremy McGovern and Elliot Yeo, the backline has generally been excellent, while the forwards have often made do with limited supply.

But the Eagles are too ­reliant on Josh Kennedy, Jack Darling and Mark LeCras for their goals and need a better spread, while their once-famed forward press has disappeared.

Clearances and contested ball have been problem areas, despite Mitchell’s inclusion, underlining the huge hole left by Naitanui.

The Eagles are yet to rule out Naitanui for the season, but he is not expected back.

The availability of ruckman Scott Lycett (shoulder) should give the Eagles better impetus out of the middle, and they dodged a bullet when a pop in Kennedy’s lower leg turned out to be a standard calf injury not the achilles problem they had feared.

The return of both will help, but coach Adam Simpson conceded there was some soul- searching to be done.

“We need to look at some of our method and how we go about it,” he said.

“Our inside- 50s have been down all year. We need to work on more supply and then keeping it in there, which is something that’s been lacking.”

Losses to teams such as Gold Coast raises questions over West Coast’s flag credentials. Picture: Getty Images

With just four more road trips left in their last 11 games, there appears to be some hope for the Eagles.

But Hawthorn great Jason Dunstall said West Coast could be ruled out of the premiership race.

“What they’re having to do is rely on intercept football down back, but then to move it, their transition of the ball isn’t good enough to hit targets going forward,” he said.

“If you look at team statistics, they are average. And that’s exactly what they are — an average team. They’re not going to do any damage come the end of September.”

ROBBO SAYS

SEASON started with hope, frustration arrived and disappointment prevails. It’s an odd assessment because the Eagles are 6-5 and on the cusp of the eight.

Travel is tough on every team, more so for the non-Victorian clubs, and we mark the Eagles hard. But they help us mark them hard.

Beat North and Port away, but bow to Gold Coast and Essendon. We just don’t know what they’re going to offer and, if we think that, the players must think the same. Who are they?

SEASON SNAPSHOT

POSITION: 7th

WINS: 6

LOSSES: 5

PERCENTAGE: 101.4%

A CLOSER LOOK

THE STAR: JOSH KENNEDY

If Kennedy makes a swift return from injury he could still become just the second player in the past 50 years to win three consecutive Coleman Medals, joining Gary Ablett Sr.

Josh Kennedy can still win a third Coleman Medal. Picture: AAP

SURPRISE PACKET: ELLIOT YEO

After a disappointing 2016, the powerful 23-year-old utility has rediscovered his 2015 form and more. Coming second in the AFL Coaches Association votes, Yeo has shone as a rebounding defender and in the midfield.

GONE BACKWARDS: MARK LECRAS

The veteran forward has kicked 17 goals from 10 games but has gone goalless from his past three matches, raising questions over his future. LeCras, 30, is coming out of contract and is due to become an unrestricted free agent.

TRADING PLACES

COMING?

The Eagles could try to lure Mitch McGovern back to his home state to join older brother Jeremy. At 22, McGovern would be the long-term successor to Coleman medallist Josh Kennedy. But West Coast may be forced into a bidding war with rivals Fremantle for his services.

GOING?

Jack Darling was linked to several Victorian clubs, notably Essendon, last year despite the Eagles denying he was on the trade table. He’s kicked 19 goals from 10 games this year but hasn’t been able to kick a bag while Josh Kennedy has been injured.

Adelaide’s Mitch McGovern is on West Coast’s radar. Picture: Tom Huntley

THE STORY SO FAR

R1: W43 North Melbourne

R2: W19 St Kilda

R3: L11 Richmond

R4: W26 Sydney

R5: L50 Hawthorn

R6: W41 Fremantle

R7: W10 Port Adelaide

R8: W8 Western Bulldogs

R9: L51 Essendon

R10: L8 GWS

THE RUN HOME

R13: Geelong S

R14: Melbourne S

R15: Western Bulldogs ES

R16: Port Adelaide S

R17: Fremantle S

R18: Collingwood ES

R19: Brisbane S

R20: St Kilda ES

R21: Carlton S

R22: GWS Spotless

R23: Adelaide S

FINALS ANALYSIS

Odds for eight: $1.60

Odds for flag: $21

Five losses in the first half of the season have all but killed West Coast’s top-four hopes. It’s now realistically about fighting for a spot in the bottom half of the eight. Consecutive home games, against Geelong and Melbourne, now provide a platform but the Eagles finish the regular season with flag fancies GWS and Adelaide.

THE STATS THAT MATTER

RAKING POINTS

Elliot Yeo 108

Luke Shuey 103

Josh J. Kennedy 98

Matt Priddis 97

Andrew Gaff 96

DISPOSALS

Andrew Gaff 30.9

Luke Shuey 28

Sam Mitchell 27.4

Matt Priddis 26

Elliot Yeo 25.1

KICK RATING

Josh J. Kennedy +9.1%

Tom Barrass +7.9%

Sharrod Wellingham +6.9%

Mark LeCras +6%

Chris Masten +4.9%

CONTESTED POSSESSIONS

Matt Priddis 12.3

Luke Shuey 10.7

Elliot Yeo 9.9

Sam Mitchell 9.7

Dom Sheed 8.8

UNCONTESTED POSSESSIONS

Andrew Gaff 24.4

Chris Masten 18.2

Sam Mitchell 18

Luke Shuey 17.8

Elliot Yeo 15.4

METRES GAINED

Elliot Yeo 487

Andrew Gaff 435

Lewis Jetta 396

Luke Shuey 358

Shannon Hurn 353

INTERCEPT POSSESSIONS

Elliot Yeo 8.5

Jeremy McGovern 8.2

Thomas Barrass 6.1

Sharrod Wellingham 6

Shannon Hurn 5.4

SCORE INVOLVEMENTS

Josh J. Kennedy 8.7

Andrew Gaff 6.6

Lewis Jetta 6.2

Josh Hill 6.1

Mark LeCras 6.1

GOALS

Josh J. Kennedy 34

Jack Darling 19

Mark LeCras 17

Josh Hill 14

Jamie Cripps 11

Originally published as Question marks over West Coast’s premiership credentials after mid-season slump